So I came home from work yesterday, living in Brisbane which as many of you know is in Australia, imagine my surprise to discover on my letterbox an envelope from Auckland Council, containing a glossy brochure and voting forms for local body elections - for a local body 2,600 kilometres away.

Now I knew I would get voting papers for General Elections (which makes sense because even here the decisions of my home government affect me, and it's not like my new home's government lets me vote - in fact even as a ratepayer I don't believe I can vote for the Brisbane City Council), but I'm at a loss why the Auckland Council is spending a fortune on postage to let people like me who live in other countries vote for the mayor.

You have a right to vote in any NZ general election, local body election, or referendum if you:*Are 18 years of age or older,*Have lived in New Zealand for more than one year continuously at some time in your life,*Are a New Zealand citizen who has been in New Zealand at any point in the past three years,or a New Zealand permanent resident who has been in New Zealand at any point in the past 12 months.

Also for local body elections, "voters who own property within a local council area, but who usually live outside this, can apply to go on the ratepayer roll. They will then be able to vote in the area where they pay rates."

So the reason you got voting papers is because:1) You have the right to vote2) AK council are required by legislation to send you voting papers3) You were a GC and updated your contact details with the NZ Electoral Commission

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